Welcome to our May 2026 newsletter from Well Cottage!
May is one of the most spectacular months to experience England. Across the countryside, vibrant rhododendrons are bursting into colour, lining country roads, filling historic gardens, and creating breathtaking displays throughout the South West. One of our favourite places to experience them is the magnificent Stourhead Gardens — and this month’s newsletter header captures just a small glimpse of their beauty.
Across the countryside, historic gardens are at their finest, and even here at Well Cottage the garden is beginning to overflow with late spring blooms, fresh greenery, and peaceful corners perfect for a quiet cup of tea in the sunshine.
This month, we’re excited to share:
- Newly released Spring 2026 and Spring 2027 availability
- Exciting new additional location options
- A beautiful Dorset spring excursion inspiration
- The famous Shaftesbury Cheese Race
- A behind-the-scenes glimpse at Laura’s flower arranging
- Cottage garden inspiration from May at Well Cottage
- A delicious traditional English lunch recipe
- Guest memories, reviews, and inspiration for future stays
So pop the kettle on, settle into your favourite chair, and enjoy a little taste of England…
2026 & 2027 availability
2026 availability: A last minute England vacation without the stress!
Now 15% off exclusively for you if you have subscribed to our newsletter!
Only one Whole Cottage Experience left!
Book the entire cottage exclusively with your friends and family. We still have one whole cottage group vacation opportunity remaining – and we’re now offering 15% off for groups of up to 6 guests for 7 nights when you subscribe to our newsletter!
Dates to choose from;
- August 10th – 17th
- September 1st – 7th
- October 17th – 24th or 20th – 27th (dog included)
This is the perfect opportunity to enjoy a last-minute, luxury all-inclusive overseas escape at exceptional value and with zero planning stress.
We’ll arrange everything for you and welcome you to our cosy thatched cottage, where we’ll show you the real England, treat you to the most personal service you’ve ever known, and design your perfect itinerary.
.CHECK OUT ALL ITINERARY OPTIONS HERE
Get in touch to explore the options and secure your preferred dates.
Group bookings Prices (up to 6 guests, 7 nights) – from $4,284 USD / $6171 CAD per person (15% saving applied). A further 5% off per child under 18 years.
Or…
Only one Shared Cottage, Summer Experience left!
Perhaps you’re planning to travel solo, with a friend or partner? For a maximum of 2 people, we’ve got the perfect stress free English escape for you this year.
Why not take advantage of a fully all-inclusive luxury shared cottage stay with a full itinerary of wonderful excursions and experiences from;
- September 25th – October 2nd
- Bedroom 1 still available
Booking our final bedroom 1 from $6,502 USD / 10,972 CAD per person (15% saving applied).
Only two Shared Cottage, Christmas Experiences left!
Or perhaps you’re planning a festive, pre-Christmas getaway? Experience the magic of Christmas in England as the Brits do!
- December 7th – 14th
- Bedroom 1 and 2 still available
Booking our final bedrooms from $6,120 USD / $8,797 CAD per person (15% saving applied).
LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR SHARED COTTAGE EXPERIENCES
2027 availability: Dreaming of England in Springtime?
With gardens bursting into bloom, rhododendrons lining country lanes, longer golden evenings, and some of England’s most beautiful seasonal displays beginning to emerge, spring is one of the most magical times to experience the English countryside.
Newly released Shared Cottage availability – Spring 2027
We’re delighted to announce, exclusively to you, 2 newly available Shared Cottage weeks:
- April 21st – 28th – all 3 Bedrooms available
- May 21st – 28th – all 3 Bedrooms available
This special springtime week offers guests the chance to experience England at one of the most beautiful times of year, with seasonal gardens, countryside blooms, charming villages, and immersive sightseeing throughout the vacation.
Room Pricing (Double Occupancy)
- Room 1 — $15,300 USD / $21,960 CAD
- Room 2 — $14,400 USD / $20,700 CAD
- Room 3 — $13,500 USD / $19,440 CAD
Room Pricing (Single Occupancy)
- Room 1 — $11,400 USD / $16,500 CAD
- Room 2 — $10,800 USD / $15,600 CAD
- Room 3 — $10,200 USD / $14,700 CAD
Other 2027 – Shared Cottage availability
Our Hidden England Discovery Itinerary
July 21st – 28th 2027 – all 3 bedrooms available
Designed for guests wishing to experience the England most tourists never see, this unforgettable itinerary includes:
- hidden villages
- breathtaking countryside
- charming market towns
- coastal scenery
- authentic English experiences
Room Pricing (Double Occupancy)
- Room 1 — $15,300 USD / $21,960 CAD
- Room 2 — $14,400 USD / $20,700 CAD
- Room 3 — $13,500 USD / $19,440 CAD
Room Pricing (Single Occupancy)
- Room 1 — $11,400 USD / $16,500 CAD
- Room 2 — $10,800 USD / $15,600 CAD
- Room 3 — $10,200 USD / $14,700 CAD
LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR SHARED COTTAGE EXPERIENCES
NEW for 2027 – let’s go further!
Salcombe Estuary in Devon
Add an additional location to your English Cottage Vacation
Have you ever wished you could experience more than Dorset during your stay?
Now you can!
Our new Additional Location Option allows you to combine the comfort and hospitality of Well Cottage with a second hand-picked destination elsewhere in England, creating an even richer and more memorable English adventure.
Imagine beginning your vacation exactly as normal.
Nathan collects you from your airport, hotel, or agreed location and brings you to Well Cottage in Dorset. You’ll spend the first few days enjoying the beautiful countryside, bespoke excursions, wonderful food, historic sites, charming villages, and everything that makes an English Cottage Vacation so special.
Then it’s time to discover another corner of England.
Whether you’ve always dreamed of exploring more of the Cotswolds, Cornwall, Devon, Oxford, or somewhere entirely different, we’ll create a second chapter to your vacation in a carefully selected additional location.
Nathan will personally take you there, while Laura travels ahead to prepare for your arrival. Your accommodation will have been hand-selected by us, and your bespoke itinerary for the area will already be planned around your interests.
When you arrive, you’ll continue enjoying the same personalised experience you’ve come to expect from us. Carefully designed days out, local discoveries, exceptional hospitality, and delicious evening meals remain part of the experience.
Stay for two, three, four, five nights or longer in your additional location before returning to Well Cottage for the final part of your stay.
The best of both worlds
This option is ideal for guests who want to see more of England without the stress of planning, driving, booking accommodation, or coordinating logistics.
It also allows us to take you further afield than we normally would. At present, most of our excursions are kept within around an hour and a half of Well Cottage because longer journeys can mean spending too much of the day travelling and not enough time enjoying the destination itself. By staying in an additional location, we eliminate the need to keep returning to Dorset each evening, giving you far more time to properly explore and experience places that might otherwise be three or more hours away.
You simply enjoy the experience while we take care of everything.
How it works
The Additional Location Option is available for up to 6 guests booking the whole cottage for a minimum 7-night Tailor made itinerary at Well Cottage.
Your vacation begins and ends at Well Cottage in Dorset, with your chosen additional location incorporated into the middle of your itinerary.
There is an additional charge for each night spent in the second location to cover the accommodation. Everything else continues much as normal, with bespoke itinerary planning, transportation, hosting, and personalised service throughout.
Where would you like to go?
The beauty of this option is its flexibility. From coastal escapes and historic cities to rolling countryside and famous landmarks, we’ll help you create the perfect combination of destinations.
If you’d like to explore the possibilities for your group of up to six guests, we’d love to help design your dream English adventure.
One vacation. Two incredible locations. Endless possibilities.
To begin planning your perfect English escape contact us today:
Local area focus: Collyers Brook and beyond
A journey through Fontmell Magna
There is something rather magical about Collyer’s Brook in Fontmell Magna. At first glance, it is a peaceful village stream, slipping quietly through the Dorset countryside, but like so many places in old English villages, it has far more stories than it lets on.
Today, the pond at Collyer’s Brook is a nature reserve: a calm, leafy haven where water, wildlife, and village history all seem to meet. It is the sort of place where you can pause for a moment and imagine the generations of people who have stood beside the same water, long before it became a protected spot for nature.
The brook itself has always been part of village life. In years gone by, it was used for sheep dipping, a very practical reminder of Fontmell Magna’s rural past. Before sprays, modern treatments, and all the clever things that now come in plastic bottles, sheep dipping was an essential part of farming life, helping to protect flocks from parasites and disease. It is easy to picture the scene: sheep being brought down to the brook, boots in the mud, water splashing, and someone almost certainly saying, “Well, that’s one way to spend a morning.”
Collyer’s Brook also has one of those wonderfully unusual village quirks: it runs right through The Fontmell pub. The pub, formerly known as The Crown, has been extended over the stream, so the water passes between the bar and dining room. On the right day, with the windows open, you can hear the brook babbling away beneath the building — a detail so charming it sounds almost invented, but thankfully, in Fontmell Magna, it is quite real.
Water has shaped this village for centuries. Fontmell Magna’s mills were once central to local life, powered by the Fontmell Brook, a tributary of the River Stour. Mills have been recorded here for around a thousand years, and the Domesday Book of 1086 listed three mills in the manor. These are thought to have been the Higher, Middle, and Lower Mills.
The mills were not just pretty waterside buildings; they were working places, vital to the village economy. Higher Mill, now known as Springhead, was one of the earliest. At one point it was used as a fulling mill, part of the woollen cloth-making process. Middle Mill was a grain mill, powered by its millpond, helping to turn harvested grain into flour. These mills remind us that the gentle water we admire today once did very serious work indeed. No spa music, no picnic rug, just proper rural industry.
Even the name Fontmell Magna tells a story. “Fontmell” is thought to come from ancient words meaning something like “spring by the bare hill” or “spring of the hill”, which makes perfect sense in a landscape shaped by water, chalk hills, and flowing streams. “Magna” means “great” or “large” in Latin, used to distinguish it from nearby Fontmell Parva — “Little Fontmell”. So Fontmell Magna is, quite literally, the greater Fontmell. Rather grand, but we shall allow it.
What makes Collyer’s Brook so special is the way it brings all of this together. Nature, farming, village life, ancient watermills, the pub, the pond, the sound of running water — all tucked into one small Dorset village.
It is a reminder that the countryside is never just scenery. It is layered with stories. Every stream has carried more than water, and Collyer’s Brook has carried centuries of work, wildlife, and village life through the heart of Fontmell Magna.
MAKE THIS HAPPEN – REACH OUT NOW!
Sterling Guest Review
“Can’t say enough about how amazing this was.”
Beyond our expectations! Food, drinks, excursions, beautiful warm and cozy cottage and Laura and Nathan are so warm and welcoming, you feel so comfortable and peaceful here!
Rooms: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Location: 5/5
Rooms
All of the bedrooms were comfortable, comfy, quiet and beautifully decorated. The rest of the cottage, kitchen, sitting rooms, and sunroom were so comfortable and cozy. Just so relaxing!
Nearby activities
Beautiful countryside walks. Village is walkable and so quaint.
Walkability
Can walk the country road into the village or walk the trail over and through farms.
Food and drinks
Delicious meals! Laura is an excellent chef and her table settings were amazing! You are never left hungry!
Noteworthy details
This was an all inclusive private cottage stay for my daughter’s and myself. It was beyond our expectations, such wonderful hosts who go above and beyond to make your stay special. Can’t say enough about how amazing this was.
Hotel highlights
Luxury, Great view, Quiet
– Carol O’Connor, Google Reviews
We never take words like these for granted! It’s a genuine privilege to share this little corner of the UK, and to play a small part in creating memories that stay with you long after you’ve returned home.
Have you been a guest of ours? We’d be so grateful if you can share your experiences on TripAdvisor and Google Reviews too! Also be sure to check out the testimonials featured on our website!
Guest Gallery: Memories from Well Cottage and around the South West of England
Moments to cherish, our guests enjoying the magic of England
SEE MORE PHOTOS ON OUR GUEST GALLERY
Featured blog post: The couple behind your cottage stay
When you choose a our hosted vacation, you’re not just choosing where to stay… you’re choosing who will be looking after you, guiding you, feeding you, driving you, and making sure every little detail feels effortless.
In this month’s featured blog, we invite you to get to know Nathan and Laura, your live-in hosts here at English Cottage Vacation. From Laura’s beautiful home-cooked meals to Nathan’s expert drinks pairings, personal chauffeur service, and calm attention to detail, they are at the very heart of what makes a stay at Well Cottage feel so wonderfully personal.
If you’ve ever wondered what it’s really like to be cared for from the moment you arrive… this is your chance to meet the couple who make it all happen.
READ OUR BLOG AND START DREAMING
Featured excursion: Abbotsbury, one of Dorset’s most beautiful Spring days out
Abbotsbury Gardens & Swannery
One of the loveliest days out from the cottage is a visit to Abbotsbury, a beautiful Dorset village tucked between rolling countryside and the Jurassic Coast.
The Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens are a real treat — 30 acres of winding paths, rare plants, towering trees, quiet ponds and little corners that feel almost secret. Thanks to its sheltered coastal position, the garden has its own mild microclimate, allowing exotic plants from around the world to flourish here in Dorset. It is the sort of place where you can wander slowly, stop often, and literally smell the roses.
Just down the road is the famous Abbotsbury Swannery, set beside the Fleet Lagoon with views towards Chesil Beach. It is home to hundreds of mute swans and is especially magical in spring and early summer when the cygnets begin to appear. The Swannery has a remarkable history too, dating back around 600 years, originally established by Benedictine monks.
Together, the gardens and swannery make a wonderfully peaceful day out — part coastal walk, part wildlife encounter, part “how is this still in England?” moment. It is ideal for guests who enjoy nature, photography, gentle exploring, and places with a proper sense of history.
Abbotsbury is well worth adding to your Dorset itinerary, especially if you like your days out beautiful, unhurried, and with a very good chance of meeting a swan who looks like he owns the place.
EXPLORE ALL OF OUR AMAZING EXCURSIONS
News corner: The famous Shaftesbury Cheese Race
The Shaftesbury Cheese Race finish line
One of Dorset’s quirkiest and most beloved traditions returns each spring — the Shaftesbury Cheese Race!
Set against the iconic backdrop of Gold Hill, competitors race downhill chasing giant wheels of cheese in a wonderfully eccentric celebration of English village tradition.
We absolutely love sharing experiences like this with our guests because it captures the playful spirit of rural England perfectly.
This month we’re featuring our very own Cheese Race video from the English Cottage Vacation YouTube channel:
Featured videos: Behind the scenes at English Cottage Vacation
Laura’s cottage flower arrangements
One of the details guests often comment on most is the fresh flower arrangements waiting for them on arrival.
Each arrangement is lovingly created using seasonal blooms, greenery from the garden, and classic English cottage styling to create that warm “welcome home” feeling.
This month, we’re sharing a little behind-the-scenes glimpse of Laura creating one of these arrangements.
WATCH THE FLOWER ARRANGING VIDEO HERE
May in the Well Cottage Garden
May is one of the loveliest months in the cottage garden.
Fresh green borders, spring flowers, climbing roses beginning to emerge, birdsong in the mornings, and longer golden evenings all combine to create that peaceful countryside atmosphere so many guests fall in love with during their stay.
Whether enjoying breakfast outside, reading with a cup of tea after a day exploring, or simply wandering through the garden at sunset, this time of year feels especially magical.
WATCH THE MAY 2026 GARDEN UPDATE VIDEO HERE
A Taste of Well Cottage: Laura’s Broccoli & Stilton Deep Dish Quiche
Serves 6 to 8 people
Rich, creamy, and packed with flavour, this classic English-style quiche combines tender broccoli with the bold character of traditional Stilton cheese — a true taste of the English countryside. You’ll need a deep quiche pan for this recipe. Alternatively you can use a shallow quiche pan and 2/3 of the recipe.
Ingredients
For the pastry
- 225g plain flour
- 100g cold butter, cubed
- Pinch of salt
- 2–3 tbsp cold water
For the filling
- 1 small head broccoli, lightly steamed
- 150g Stilton cheese, crumbled
- 4 eggs
- 300ml double cream
- 1 small onion, gently sauteed in butter
- Salt & freshly ground black pepper
- A pinch of nutmeg
- 2 tsp onion powder
Method
Step 1 – Make the pastry
- Add the flour and salt to a large mixing bowl.
- Rub the cold butter into the flour using your fingertips until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.
- Gradually add the cold water, one spoonful at a time, mixing gently until the dough just comes together.
- Form into a disc, wrap, and chill in the fridge for 30 minutes.
Step 2 – Prepare the pastry case
- Preheat oven to 190°C (375°F).
- Roll out the chilled pastry on a lightly floured surface and line a deep tart or quiche tin.
- Prick the base lightly with a fork.
- Line with baking parchment and baking beans (or rice).
- Blind bake for 15 minutes.
- Remove the parchment and bake for a further 5 minutes until lightly golden.
Step 3 – Prepare the filling
- Arrange the steamed broccoli and softened onion evenly in the pastry case.
- Sprinkle over the Stilton cheese.
- In a jug, whisk together the eggs, cream, seasoning, and nutmeg.
- Carefully pour over the filling.
Step 4 – Bake
- Bake for 35–40 minutes until golden, lightly puffed, and just set in the centre.
- Allow to cool slightly before serving.
- Serve warm with fresh salad and garlic bread, or enjoy cold the next day as part of a traditional English picnic lunch.
Laura’s recipe book contains many of the comforting dishes our guests enjoy during their stay — from traditional English favourites to seasonal cottage recipes inspired by the countryside.
Or search for “English Cottage Kitchen Recipe Book by Laura Kurton” on Amazon – the stunning hardcover edition is now available worldwide!
FEAST YOUR EYES ON LAURA’S FOOD GALLERY
A taste of English cottage life, wherever you are
Laura’s English Cottage Kitchen Recipe Book is exactly that. A collection of the dishes our guests fall in love with during their stay, each one rooted in comfort, tradition, and a genuine joy for bringing people together around the table. It’s not just a cookbook, but a wonderful piece of the Well Cottage experience to take home and revisit time and time again.
For those who love the feel of a beautiful book in their hands, the stunning 98-page hardcover edition makes a truly special gift:
For any other territory, simply search “English Cottage Kitchen Recipe Book by Laura Kurton” on Amazon.
And if time has quietly slipped away, the digital version is ready in an instant, perfect for a thoughtful last-minute surprise that still feels deeply personal:
Know a travel advisor who values elite service?
Every so often, guests mention a travel advisor who just gets what English Cottage Vacation is all about: Someone who values authenticity, personal service, and beautifully crafted luxury experiences.
If you know a trusted agent or broker who might be excited to discover us – and perhaps share Well Cottage with their other clients – we’d love to be introduced.
Feel free to pass our details along to them, or pop us a message with theirs. A simple connection could open the door to something rather special. Thank you so much in advance!
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If you have a few minutes, please complete our short survey and let us know what you enjoy, what you find useful, and what we could do better. Your feedback will help us make the newsletter more interesting, relevant, and enjoyable to read.
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your thoughts with us. It really does make a difference.
Celebrating our luxury picnic basket winner!
One of our picnic set-ups in front of the ruins of Sherborne Old Castle
It’s that time again! We’re thrilled to announce this month’s luxury countryside picnic basket! A beautifully handcrafted willow hamper filled with all the essentials for a dreamy alfresco outing is on its way to one lucky subscriber…
JULIA FITZPATRICK
Please reach out to us by email so that we can arrange delivery!
info@englishcottagevacation.com
Congratulations! Your basket includes:
- Fine china plates and real glassware
- Stainless steel cutlery and linen napkins
- A tartan picnic blanket
Didn’t win this time? Don’t despair – we’re giving away another one next month! Simply stay subscribed to our weekly newsletter and you’re automatically in the draw.
And if you know someone who would love a touch of English charm in their inbox, feel free to forward this email or share the sign-up link – click here! They could also be in to win!
*Disclaimer: The basket we deliver is subject to availability but we will always strive to ensure comparable quality!
Essential info: Everything you need to know, all in one place
Well Cottage, Pimms cup and dining outside in the garden.
Flowers at Well Cottage Today
From your first enquiry to your farewell at Heathrow, we’ve designed every step of your English Cottage Vacation to be smooth, simple and beautifully stress-free.
Whether you’re curious about availability, wondering how payments work, or ready to shape your tailor-made itinerary, the links below will guide you through it all – clearly, quickly, and with complete confidence.
Your Tailor-Made Itinerary, Discovery Process
Step inside the cottage community!
Join our Facebook group for a peek behind the scenes, seasonal updates from Well Cottage, and a friendly space to connect with fellow Anglophiles. We’d love to welcome you in!
* All you need to do is arrive – we’ll take care of everything else!
Reach out today to begin your effortless, luxury English countryside escape.
